Mathematical Economic Analysis Major

Degree Requirements for Major in Mathematical Economic Analysis

All MTEC majors must present a minimum of 16 courses with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0. When students repeat courses or complete more than the minimum required number of courses, the departmental GPA will be based on the set of courses that (1) satisfies all requirements for the degree, and (2) results in the highest GPA for the student. However, when a course is taken at both Rice and another institution, the grade in the Rice course will be used for departmental GPA calculations.

The 16 courses presented for the major in mathematical economic analysis must include the following:

ECON 496 Research in Economic Theory or ECON 497 Research in Econometrics

(c)Four ECON major electives in economics, including at least 3 400-level ECON electives.

* Note that in order to enroll in ECON 308, Mathematical Economics, which is a required course for the Mathematical Economic Analysis major, students must have either (1) made a grade of B- or higher in MATH 212 or MATH 221/MATH 222 taken at Rice, or (2) received transfer credit for MATH 212 or MATH 221/MATH 222 and received approval of the course instructor.

** Students who have received credit for ECON 111 and ECON 113 and have made a grade of B- or better in MATH 102 (taken at Rice University) may substitute any Economics major elective for ECON 100. Students who wish to take advantage of this option must inform the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Economics Department.

Additional Information

Transfer Credit

In some cases, transfer credit may be awarded for courses completed at other schools after the student has matriculated at Rice. Students may present a maximum of two such transfer courses in fulfilling requirement (2a). Additionally, students may present a maximum of three such transfer courses in fulfilling requirements (2b) and (2c) combined. (Additional transfer courses may count toward meeting university graduation requirements, but not toward fulfillment of requirements for the major.) Credits awarded to transfer students for courses taken prior to matriculation at Rice are not counted against the limit on transfer courses, but all students must complete more than half of their upper-level major work (300-level and 400-level courses) at Rice. For additional information on transfer credits, consult the economics department website.

Requirements for Departmental Honors

To earn departmental honors in economics, students must earn a grade of B+ or better in the department’s two-semester honors program, ECON 498/499.

The honors program is available to both ECON and MTEC majors.

To be admitted to the honors program, students (a) must have a GPA of 3.67 or better in all courses taken toward fulfilling their departmental requirements at the beginning of their senior year; (b) must have completed all of the core requirements for their major; (c) must have completed the 400-level course or courses most closely related to their area of research, and (d) must be accepted to the honors program by the professor supervising the program.

For additional information on the honors program, consult the economics department website.